Avantika Vandanapu (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:IPA; born January 25, 2005), known mononymously as Avantika, is an American actress. She began her career with the 2016 Telugu film Brahmotsavam and later took on several other projects within Telugu cinema. She then transitioned to American cinema and had her first lead role in the Disney Channel original movie Spin (2021) and subsequently starred in Netflix's Senior Year (2022). She gained recognition with supporting roles in the musical comedy Mean Girls and horror film Tarot (both 2024).
Early and personal life
Avantika Vandanapu was born to a Telugu family in Union City, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, on January 25, 2005.[1][2][3] Her family originally hails from Hyderabad, Telangana, India before they emigrated to the United States. She took drama lessons at the American Conservatory Theater.[4]
Avantika currently resides in New York City.[5] She attends Columbia University as a member of the class of 2027.[5][6]
Career
Early work in Indian cinema (2014–2016)
In 2014, Avantika won second place in the Zee TV dance competition reality series Dance India Dance L'il Masters (North America Edition).[7]
Avantika entered Telugu cinema in 2015 and was signed for two movies. She was selected to play the role of Chutki in 14 Reels Entertainment's Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha (2016), however, scheduling conflicts forced her to leave during production. Avantika officially debuted as a child artist in Brahmotsavam (2016) starring Mahesh Babu. She then appeared in Chandra Shekhar Yeleti's film Manamantha. Later, she signed on for Premam starring Naga Chaitanya and Shruti Hassan, in which she portrayed the younger version of Madonna Sebastian's character.[8] Avantika revealed that the key reason for her departure from Telugu cinema was the lack of variety in the roles she was offered which mainly consisted of playing the younger character of the female lead or a supporting role.[9]
Transition to American cinema (2021–present)
In 2021, Avantika debuted into American cinema by playing the lead role of Rhea Kumar, a headstrong high school student with aspirations of becoming a DJ in the Disney Channel Original Movie Spin.[10] The film, along with her performance, had a positive reception from Udita Jhunjhunwala of Firstpost who took note of her "sparkling eyes, as she glides through the restaurant with as much ease as she finds her groove behind the mixing console".[11] She followed this with supporting roles in the unremarkable Netflix original films Moxie (2021) and Senior Year (2022).[12]
In 2024, Avantika portrayed Karen Shetty in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, based on the 2004 movie of the same name.[13] She had to take a "temporary leave of absence" from university to accommodate the timings required for shooting.[14] Avantika discussed the change in Karen's ethnicity from the original film, stating that "playing that kind of character, especially as an Indian American woman, is really, really crazy". She added that she was "excited to finally play a South Asian character that wasn’t reduced to being a stereotype".[15] The film received mixed reviews from critics, however, her performance was well received.[16] Writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw commended Avantika as "the standout amongst the mean girls".[17] Mean Girls emerged as a commercial success, which led to The Times of India crediting the film with helping establish her presence in American cinema.[18][19]
She returned to Indian projects with the Amazon Prime Video original series Big Girls Don't Cry. She portrayed Ludo, a closeted lesbian struggling to retain her basketball captaincy whilst coming to terms with her sexuality.[20] In a mixed review for Film Companion, Rahul Desai criticised the number of characters in the series making it difficult to maintain focus to the nuances of each one's storyline, but praised the chemistry and performances of the cast.[21] The following month, Avantika appeared amongst an ensemble in the Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen-helmed horror film Tarot.[22] Her decision to take on the role was influenced by her mother's belief in astrology and her own early interest in the occult, as the film combined both themes.[23] Reception to the film was generally negative;[24] in her review for Collider, Emma Kiely felt that Avantika's performance had been constrained as she "isn't given enough to do", and compared it unfavourably to her performance in Mean Girls.[25] Made on a shoestring-budget, Tarot emerged as a major commercial success.[26]
She starred alongside Maddie Ziegler and Lana Condor in Vicky Jewson's action thriller film Pretty Lethal.[27] Avantika is also set to headline the Disney+ original series A Crown of Wishes, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Roshani Chokshi, and Mindy Kaling's comedy series Not Suitable for Work.[28][29]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes | Template:Tooltip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Brahmotsavam | Babu's cousin | Telugu | Child artist | [30] |
| Manamantha | Swathi | [31] | |||
| Premam | Young Sindhu | [30] | |||
| 2017 | Babu Baga Busy | Anitha | [32] | ||
| Rarandoi Veduka Chudham | Young Bhramarambha | ||||
| Balakrishnudu | Young Aadhya | ||||
| Oxygen | Avantika | [32] | |||
| 2018 | Agnyaathavaasi | Sampath's daughter | [30] | ||
| 2021 | Spin | Rhea Kumar | English | [33] | |
| Boomika | Boomika | Tamil | [34] | ||
| Moxie | Chem Class Girl | English | Credited as Avantika Vandanapu | [35] | |
| 2022 | Senior Year | Janet Singh | [36] | ||
| 2024 | Mean Girls | Karen Shetty | [13] | ||
| Tarot | Paige | [22] | |||
| 2025 | Champion | Dayana | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "I Am A Champion" | [37] |
| 2026 | Pretty Lethal | Grace | English | Completed | [38] |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Dance India Dance L'il Masters (North America Edition) | Herself | Contestant | |
| 2018 | The Talent Show | [39] | ||
| 2023 | Hell's Kitchen | Guest diner/Teen Cancer America contributor; Episode: A Hellish Food Fight |
Web series
| Year | Series | Role | Language | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Diary of a Future President | Monyca | English | Disney+ | season one | |
| 2022 | The Sex Lives of College Girls | Priya | HBO Max | Guest role | ||
| 2024 | Big Girls Don't Cry | Leah "Ludo" Joseph | Amazon Prime Video | Main cast | [40] | |
| Template:TableTBA | Template:Pending | Princess Gauri | Disney+ | Main cast; also executive producer | [41] |
Voice roles
| Year | Series | Role | Language | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures | Sareena Tapoor | English | Disney Jr | ||
| 2020 | Mira, Royal Detective | Kamala | ||||
| 2025 | Cartoonified with Phineas and Ferb | Herself | Disney Channel | Episode: "Avantika" | [42] |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | "2000s Pop Punk Rnb" | Whatmore[43] |
References
- ↑ Avantika. Avantika. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ↑ Spin actor Avantika on Disney Channel film being a win for South Asian community, her acting icons, and career aspirations, Jhunjhunwala, Udita. Firstpost(August 18, 2021). Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ↑ Girl on fire: Telugu ammayi from LA Avantika Vandanapu hailed as breakout star of Disney's 'Spin', Kalanidhi, Manju Latha. The New Indian Express(August 22, 2021).
- ↑ Dubai is favourite city for Indian-American showbiz star Avantika Vandanapu, Belle, Nithin. Khaleej Times(August 28, 2021).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Get in, loser. A brown Mean Girl is here. Vogue India(January 15, 2024). Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ↑ She doesn't even go here!... Oh wait, she does: Meet Avantika Vandanapu from 'Mean Girls', Shaw, Rachel. Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ↑ Avantika Vandanapu from Union City was selected as one of the top ten finalists out of more than 10,000 contestants. Tri-City Voice(August 13, 2014).
- ↑ Avantika Vandanapu Indian American Actress | Tollywood to Hollywood. The Global Indian. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ "Mahesh Babu is down to earth, great actor": Avantika Vandanapu. Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ↑ Spin movie review: Avantika Vandanapu, Abhay Deol film is a welcome deviation from typical high school flicks. www.msn.com. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ↑ Spin movie review: Avantika Vandanapu, Abhay Deol film is a welcome deviation from typical high school flicks. Firstpost(August 16, 2021). Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ Jade Bender, Michael Cimino, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Avantika Join Paramount Players' 'Senior Year'(EXCLUSIVE), Jackson, Angelique. Variety(July 16, 2021). Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 'Mean Girls': Avantika, Christopher Briney & Bebe Wood Board Paramount Film Based On Tony-Nominated Musical Adaptation, Grobar, Matt. Deadline.com(February 8, 2023).
- ↑ "It's a shock for any brown parent": 'Mean Girls' actress Avantika Vandanapu on the driving forces behind her rise to stardom, Ray, Chandreyee. Vogue Singapore(April 8, 2024). Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ↑ The Desi Mean Girl: A Conversation With Avantika Vandanapu Who Breaks Stereotypes in the New Version of Iconic Film, Kulkarni, Bhargavi. American Kahani(February 4, 2024). Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ↑ 'Mean Girls' musical reboot described as "snappy" yet "culturally irrelevant" in mixed reviews, Edwards, Chris. NME(January 12, 2024). Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ Mean Girls review – high-school sadism comedy as sugar-rush movie musical. The Guardian(January 10, 2024). Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ 'Mean Girls' Musical Triumphs at Box Office, With a TikTok Assist. The New York Times(2024-01-14). Retrieved 2024-12-28.
- ↑ From child actor to global star: Avantika Vandanapu is on a roll. The Times of India. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ↑ Big Girls Don't Cry Review: Boarding School Adventure Is Frothy, Flimsy And Fun, Chatterjee, Saibal. NDTV(15 March 2024). Retrieved 2024-12-28.
- ↑ Template:Cite instagram
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Jacob Batalon, Alana Boden, Adain Bradley and Avantika To Star In Screen Gems' 'Horrorscope', Kroll, Justin. Deadline(June 28, 2022). Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ↑ Avantika talks 'Tarot' and that racist 'Tangled' backlash: 'Media literacy is a dying art', Morrow, Brendan. USA Today. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ↑ Tarot. Metacritic. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ↑ 'Tarot' Review: A Surprisingly Scary But Ultimately Forgettable PG-13 Horror, Kiely, Emma. Collider(May 2, 2024). Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ↑ 'Tarot' Movie Makes Debut On Digital Streaming, Lammers, Tim. Forbes. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ↑ Everything We Know About 'Ballerina Overdrive' So Far, Gomez, Dessi. Deadline(August 28, 2024). Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ↑ Avantika To Headline 'A Crown Of Wishes' Fantasy Series In Works At Disney Branded TV For Disney+, Andreeva, Nellie. Deadline(November 3, 2022). Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ↑ Mindy Kaling Series 'Not Suitable for Work' Sets Lead Cast, Including Ella Hunt, Avantika & Nicholas Duvernay Among 5, Cordero, Rosy. Deadline(2025-08-28). Retrieved 2025-09-21.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 From 'Brahmotsavam' to 'Mean Girls': Avantika Vandanapu is the talk of the town. The Hindu(January 17, 2024). Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ↑ Amazing that Indian women are able to shine their light in Hollywood: 'Mean Girls' actor Avantika. The New Indian Express(March 4, 2024). Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Avantika Vandanapu's age, height, movies, family, net worth, and more, Mageni, Rodah. Briefly.co.za(19 October 2024). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ EXCLUSIVE: Avantika Vandanapu on her Disney movie SPIN & why her Desi family covers the remote with plastic. Pinkvilla(August 14, 2021). Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ↑ Aishwarya Rajesh starrer Boomika promises to be a gripping horror movie. The Indian Express(August 10, 2021). Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ↑ Avantika: 10 Best Movies & TV Shows, Bruce, Amanda. Screen Rant(September 17, 2024). Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ↑ Girl on fire: Telugu ammayi from LA Avantika Vandanapu hailed as breakout star of Disney's 'Spin'. The New Indian Express(August 21, 2021). Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ↑ ‘Champion’ box office collection day 3: Roshan Meka and Anaswara Rajan starrer collects Rs 6 crore(December 28, 2025).
- ↑ Maddie Ziegler & Avantika Cast In ‘Ballerina Overdrive’ From 87North & Gulfstream Pictures, Cordero, Rosy(August 27, 2024).
- ↑ Watch The Talent Show S1:E4 Final Group Auditions. therokuchannel.roku.com(August 8, 2024). Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ↑ Watch the trailer of 'Big Girls Don't Cry,' Prime Video's upcoming Original series. IN About Amazon(March 6, 2024). Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ↑ 'Mean Girls' 2024 Cast and Character Guide: Who Plays Who?, Gomez, Dessi. thewarp.com(March 8, 2024). Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ↑ The next "Cartoonified! with Phineas And Ferb" short will feature Avantika (Sony Pictures "Tarot", Paramount Pictures "Mean Girls", Disney Channel Original Movie "Spin") is slated for Saturday September 20 on Disney Channel Animation's Youtube. via EIDR. Tumblr(August 22, 2025). Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ↑ Sean Kaufman, Avantika Film Music Video For WHATMORE. TMZ(2026-03-17). Retrieved 2026-03-24.